Stalybridge Celtic Juniors Blues 0 – 0 AFC Clayton
MoM: Matthew
...Nil - Nil???
...though lets be honest, everyone there knows it was 1-0 don’t they? (well…except maybe the one).....
The blues lined up with Thomas in goal; Holly at the back with Jacob and Fin switching midfield/defensive duties and Josh up front with Joe and Jack, CJ and Matthew “warming” the subs bench.
The freezing cold conditions took a turn for the considerably worse in the half-hour leading to kick-off and the inch or so of fresh snow that settled on the pitch and near blizzard made for exceptionally tricky conditions once the match got underway to say the least... though I must add, that was just for the match reporter...the kids absolutely loved it!
The Blues started brightly with a crunching tackle for Fin breaking to Joe who’s first time shot fizzed just wide. Joe then went on a strong run and his cross to Josh was well cleared for a corner by a Clayton defender.
Jacob was reveling in the slippery surface and put in the first of three excellent sliding tackles.
Josh went on a run from deep and under pressure from a defender had two bites at a shot that just screwed wide .
It was around about this time, midway through the first half that the conditions became totally overwhelming and after a valiant effort the Blues totally gave up….no hang on….sorry…the Blue...... PEN that I was using totally gave up; the paper turned to mush and the remainder of this report is largely just “remembered” events
Excellent covering and perceptive reading of the game from Holly and strong running and tackling from Fin ensured that Thomas’ heroics of the previous week were not needed in a half where he was largely untroubled. He did however spring into action and made some good saves when called upon which considering the plummeting temperature was no mean feat.
An excellent pass from Josh released Joe whose shot was deflected wide; the first of two incidents in quick succession where the defender and keeper did not get the credit they deserved as a goal kick was awarded on both occasions rather than corners.
Clayton’s goal kicks were quite the weapon as their outfield player regularly reached (and passed) the half way line but they were well covered by the tight Celtic back-line.
Jack and Matthew replaced Josh and Joe at Half Time with Fin making way for CJ who slotted into midfield. The half started with a fine run and shot from distance from Jack.
Matthew performed a skilful turn and run in his own elegant way where he seems to give himself all the time in the world. His run was blocked by some good defending. Jack then burst past their midfield carrying the ball- two defenders were drawn to him and if only he had been able to look up he would have seen Matthew had found a great position unmarked on the edge of the box.
Struggling with the conditions, Thomas threw the ball out very well to set yet another attack in motion which led to a shot from Jack that was well saved. The pressure was relentless with shots from Jacob, Holly and Jack peppering their goal leading to countless corners.
One of the corners led to the games main talking point; Jack’s fiercely driven cross was deflected goal-wards by an unfortunate defender....or rather...”a fortunate defender” as it turned out. Whilst, from our excellent vantage point it was plain to see the ball crossed the line by a considerable distance, lets just say the referee must have clearly been unsighted... I’d say it is a slightly excessive notion to introduce goal-line technology to the Under 7’s league but.......anyway I don’t think we should dwell too long on it as this league is a great place for young referees to learn the game and too and to be fair/generous, he may well have just been using the poor visibility as an excuse to give the poor freezing defender a break!
Matthew continued to create chances in a Man of the Match performance and there were brilliant turns from Jacob and CJ. Holly was very unlucky with a shot before she and CJ (who was hurt during a determined run) made way for Joe and Josh.
Jack went on another great run, teasing defenders in an almost carbon copy of the earlier move and if he’d managed to spot the totally unmarked Josh in the middle of the penalty area it would surely have resulted in a great team goal.
Alas the relentless pressure could not produce the goal that we all wanted to warm us up and the match somehow ended goalless. Credit must go to all the players from both sides for putting on a good passing display in such conditions and to the resilient Clayton defence, particularly one young lad whose sublime turn just in front of us was probably THE moment of the match. He clearly knew this to be the case as he then spent the remaining minutes fluctuating between requesting that he “play on the bench” and trying to catch the considerably sized snow flakes in his mouth.
Here’s to some better weather next week
Andy